The fires burned bright that night, casting shadows across the terrified faces of his soldiers. Mal stood just outside the glare of the light, watching each face and gauging their reactions, their feelings. Tomorrow, the battle would begin, and there had been rumors of the amount of men the Alliance would bring to the battle. As it stood, there were only a dozen platoons scattered around Serenity valley, surrounding the Alliances' ground forces. What happened in the air wasn't their strategic problem, but they had a few ground to air rockets around, and Mal was hoping to have the opportunity to use one of them. He swirled his battered tin cup, the drink sloshing dangerously close to the rim.Letting his gaze drift from the men before him, Mal took a bit of time to further associate himself with his surroundings. His platoon was huddled inside a half-cave that extended a fair distance back to provide cover. From where he stood, Mal had a good view of the valley. He could see over a hundred small points of light flickering in the dark night; campfires of both enemy and ally. Above them stretched the limitless sky, stars scattered in the thousands. In the dark, the landscape looked terrifying, intimidating, and wild. It didn't look a whole lot safer in the daylight; the addition of light, however, brought color to the world. Shades of green and brown covered the ground with smatterings of pinks and purples and blues bringing life to such a wild area. Down at the very bottom of the valley was a desert, with browns and tans, some greens to bring life to the world. Mal was almost sad that he wouldn't have the chance to appreciate it. They were only here to obliterate the Alliance. And as beautiful a thought as that was..."Thinkin' about tomorrow?" asked a familiar female voice. Tearing his gaze from the valley, Mal looked to Zoe, his most trusted companion. Despite her lower rank, he treated her as an equal, and she respected him for it. She was tall; taller than him, and built like an Amazon. Zoe was the only woman in the platoon, and she was more than proud of the fact that she could keep up. All of the soldiers had either a healthy respect or a healthy fear of her."Thinkin' about them." He inclined his head towards the soldiers. A few of them had gathered into small groups, telling nervous stories to try and ease their nerves. He could hear them laugh awkwardly, almost stiffly, and shook his head sadly. "They're not ready.""They will be if you lead them right." Zoe leaned against the same post Mal was, scanning the men. She crossed her arms across her belly, drumming her fingers against her biceps. "You're a good leader, sir. You can make anyone ready.""We gotta be. If we're gonna pull through tomorrow, we gotta be strong." Mal took a long drink from his cup, draining it dry. "Well...time for me to cheer these poor men up." With a sideways grin, Mal pushed off the pillar and moved towards the clusters. Zoe watched him, fascinated, as he offered words of comfort, encouragement, and humor to each man in turn. She leaned her head against the pillar, continuing to watch him. It was amazing the ease with which Mal could calm even the most frightened young soldier, could make him smile honestly and breathe a little easier."Sir?" came a tentative plea. Mal turned to see a little young man standing cautiously behind him, shoulders hunched like an abused puppy. A welcoming smile from Mal calmed him a bit, but he was still nervous. "C-can I t-talk to you, sir?" He shifted his weight from foot to foot."If you promise to hold still." Mal winked and took the young man about the shoulders, glancing back at Zoe with a small smile. She smiled back, nodding her appreciation. "Yes, of course," he said, returning his attention to the man with him. "What can I do for you, Tommy?""Sir, I'm...I'm really nervous. All shakes." Tommy hung his head, trudging along slowly beside Mal. "I can' help but think that maybe...maybe I won' make it tomorrow...""Hey! Don't you be sayin' things like that. We'll all make it tomorrow." Far enough away from the campfires to not be heard, Mal stopped and turned Tommy to face him. The young man, who couldn't have been more than about 19, stared at the ground between Mal's feet, too afraid to even look at his commander. "Look at me when I talk to you, nan zi." Cringing, Tommy looked up at Mal, who was staring at him, arms crossed and face serious. "I swear to you under God, we'll make it tomorrow.""Yer a religious man, Serg?" Taken aback, Tommy blinked a few times, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Never pictured you as a man who believed in religiosity.""I'm a surprisin' man." When he realized that that answer would not suffice, Mal sighed and scrubbed his face with his hand. "I find havin' faith in the On High helps nights like t'night." He tapped his sternum, his shirt forming a silhouette of a cross. "I got this wooden cross few years back on my first campaign. My sergeant gave it to me as a kind of...good luck charm. Thought he was addled in the brain pan til the Battle of Intent, when we got backup just as he said. He'd prayed all night, and durin' most of the fight, always muttering under his breath about somethin'. Then backup arrived, and..." He shrugged a bit, hooking his thumbs into his belt. "Guess I been a solid believer since."Tommy stood quietly for a moment, looking back to the cross Mal wore from time to time. Finally, he looked back up at Mal's face. "Any other trivia I oughtta know about you b'fore tomorrow?""Had a cat named Fei once. Bastard thing. Ate my boots." It had the desired effect; Tommy smiled, and then laughed. Mal laughed himself, patting Tommy heartily on the back. "Better now?""Yeah, thanks, sir." Grinning from ear to ear, Tommy straightened and offered Mal a hand. "G'night, sir."Mal shook Tommy's hand, clasping the same arm tightly. "You'll be good tomorrow, Tom. Promise.""Yessir." Tommy nodded awkwardly, bobbing his head a few times before darting away to his companions, who welcomed him back to the fire with grins and laughs. Mal stood for a moment in the dark, watching. Once, Tommy looked up and smiled his thanks before he turned back to his friends. The smile on Mal's face spread wider and he faded into the night, heading for his bedroll. It was going to be a long series of days and night until the Alliance was put under, once and for all.

The Fantasy Artists, RolePlayers & Writers Guild, aka FARPWG the Guild is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC. FARPWG - The Guild may use the trademarks and other intellectual property of Wizards of the Coast LLC, which is permitted under Wizards' Fan Site Policy (Magic site) (D&D site). For example, MAGIC: THE GATHERING®, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®, D&D®, PLAYER'S HANDBOOK 2®, and DUNGEON MASTER'S GUIDE® are trademark[s] of Wizards of the Coast and D&D® core rules, game mechanics, characters and their distinctive likenesses are the property of the Wizards of the Coast. For more information about Wizards of the Coast or any of Wizards' trademarks or other intellectual property, please visit their website at (www.wizards.com)

The Fantasy Artists, RolePlayers & Writers Guild, aka FARPWG the Guild is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by any company unless specified. In order to review products Guild Members may reference trademarks and other intellectual property of these companies without intent to violate trademarks or copyrights.

This product is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. List each check separately by bank number. Batteries not included. Contents may settle during shipment. Use only as directed. No other warranty expressed or implied. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Postage will be paid by addressee. Subject to CAB approval. This is not an offer to sell securities. Apply only to affected area. May be too intense for some viewers. Do not stamp. Use other side for additional listings. For recreational use only. Do not disturb. All models over 18 years of age. If condition persists, consult your physician. No user-serviceable parts inside. Freshest if eaten before date on carton. Subject to change without notice. Times approximate. Simulated picture. No postage necessary if mailed in the United States. Breaking seal constitutes acceptance of agreement. For off-road use only. As seen on TV. One size fits all. Many suitcases look alike. Contains a substantial amount of non-tobacco ingredients. Colors may, in time, fade. We have sent the forms which seem right for you. Slippery when wet. For office use only. Not affiliated with the American Red Cross. Drop in any mailbox. Edited for television. Keep cool. process promptly. Post office will not deliver without postage. List was current at time of printing. Return to sender, no forwarding order on file, unable to forward. Not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform. At participating locations only. Not the Beatles. Penalty for private use. See label for sequence. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal. Do not write below this line. Falling rock. Lost ticket pays maximum rate. Your canceled check is your receipt. Add toner. Place stamp here. Avoid contact with skin. Sanitized for your protection. Be sure each item is properly endorsed. Sign here without admitting guilt. Slightly higher west of the Mississippi. Employees and their families are not eligible. Beware of dog. Contestants have been briefed on some questions before the show. Limited time offer, call now to ensure prompt delivery. You must be present to win. No passes accepted for this engagement. No purchase necessary. Processed at location stamped in code at top of carton. Shading within a garment may occur. Use only in a well-ventilated are. Keep away from fire or flames. Replace with same type. Approved for veterans. Booths for two or more. Check here if tax deductible. Some equipment shown is optional. Price does not include taxes. No Canadian coins. Not recommended for children. Prerecorded for this time zone. Reproduction strictly prohibited. No solicitors. No alcohol, dogs or horses. No anchovies unless otherwise specified. Restaurant package, not for resale. List at least two alternate dates. First pull up, then pull down. Call toll free before digging. Driver does not carry cash. Some of the trademarks mentioned in this product appear for identification purposes only. Record additional transactions on back of previous stub. Unix is a registered trademark of AT&T. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate. No transfers issued until the bus comes to a complete stop. Package sold by weight, not volume. Your mileage may vary. This article does not reflect the thoughts or opinions of either myself, my company, my friends, or my cat. Don't quote me on that. Don't quote me on anything. All rights reserved. You may distribute this article freely but you may not make a profit from it. Terms are subject to change without notice. Illustrations are slightly enlarged to show detail. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is unintentional and purely coincidental. Do not remove this disclaimer under penalty of law. Hand wash only, tumble dry on low heat. Do not bend, fold, mutilate, or spindle. No substitutions allowed. For a limited time only. This article is void where prohibited, taxed, or otherwise restricted. Caveat emptor. Article is provided "as is" without any warranties. Reader assumes full responsibility. An equal opportunity article. No shoes, no shirt, no articles. quantities are limited while supplies last. If any defects are discovered, do not attempt to read them yourself, but return to an authorized service center. Read at your own risk. Parental advisory - explicit lyrics. Text may contain explicit materials some readers may find objectionable, parental guidance is advised. Keep away from sunlight. Keep away from pets and small children. Limit one-per-family please. No money down. No purchase necessary. You need not be present to win. Some assembly required. Batteries not included. Instructions are included. Action figures sold separately. No preservatives added. Slippery when wet. Safety goggles may be required during use. Sealed for your protection, do not read if safety seal is broken. Call before you dig. Not liable for damages arising from use or misuse. For external use only. If rash, irritation, redness, or swelling develops, discontinue reading. Read only with proper ventilation. Avoid extreme temperatures and store in a cool dry place. Keep away from open flames. Avoid contact with eyes and skin and avoid inhaling fumes. Do not puncture, incinerate, or store above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not place near a flammable or magnetic source. Smoking this article could be hazardous to your health. The best safeguard, second only to abstinence, is the use of a condom. No salt, MSG, artificial color or flavoring added. If ingested, do not induce vomiting, and if symptoms persist, consult a physician. Articles are ribbed for your pleasure. Possible penalties for early withdrawal. Offer valid only at participating sites. Slightly higher west of the Rockies. Allow four to six weeks for delivery. must be 18 to read. Disclaimer does not cover misuse, accident, lightning, flood, tornado, tsunami, volcanic eruption, earthquake, hurricanes and other Acts of God, neglect, damage from improper reading, incorrect line voltage, improper or unauthorized reading, broken antenna or marred cabinet, missing or altered serial numbers, electromagnetic radiation from nuclear blasts, sonic boom vibrations, customer adjustments that are not covered in this list, and incidents owing to an airplane crash, ship sinking or taking on water, motor vehicle crashing, dropping the item, falling rocks, leaky roof, broken glass, mud slides, forest fire, or projectile (which can include, but not be limited to, arrows, bullets, shot, BB's, shrapnel, lasers, napalm, torpedoes, or emissions of X-rays, Alpha, Beta and Gamma rays, knives, stones, etc.). Other restrictions may apply. This supersedes all previous notices.

Opinions in articles, posts and podcasts do not necessarily represent the views of The Fantasy Artists, RolePlayers & Writers Guild, aka FARPWG the Guild.